Fantastic Frogs & Terrific Toads

General Objective: Know the external characteristics of anurans (frogs and toads)Specific Objective: Know the differences and similarities that anurans (frogs and toads) posess

Materials:
Image “Fantastic Frogs vs Terrific Toads”

Frogs

Toads

Skin

Moist and usually smooth. Frogs need to spend most of their time in or near water so that they do not dry out.

Much drier and bumpier. This means that they do not need as much time in the water to keep their skin just right.

Teeth

Most frogs have teeth on their upper jaw.

Toads do not have teeth

Eggs (both laid in water)

Frogs lay their eggs in a disorganized clump.

Toads lay their eggs in a string that looks like a necklace.

Toxins that say “Stay Away”

Some frogs make “toxins” or poisons in their skin to keep predators from eating them.

Toads have large glands on their backs that produce toxins that make themselves not tasty or even dangerous to other animals that may want a toad snack.

Procedure:
1. Give a brief introduction about amphibians, and with the aid of the images or amphibian exhibit, introduce the concept of the differeces and similarities between frogs and toads,
2. Form groups of 4 or 5 students and give them the blank table based on the fantastic frogs and terrific toads worksheet. Ask the students to hypothesize the difference between a frog and a toad organize these characteristics into a table. They may get frustrated that they don’t know if their answers are “right” but this is ok. For younger students you can give them the categories for the table, for older students, have them attempt to come up with the categories on their own.
3. Discuss their answers as a class, and correct as necessary.

For younger students you could describe the difference between frogs and toads, and show them pictures of each, asking them to compare similarities and differences, then give them WS #4 and ask them to circle in 1 color all the characteristics of a frog, and in another color all the characteristics of a toad.

For older students you could ask them to investigate examples of frogs and toads that live in their area, and then write several paragraphs describing their similarities and difference